‘Well, my goodness,’ said Catherine, ‘we have had some fascinating stories this morning! What a great start to our week. You’ve certainly all deserved your lunch and I should think you’re very ready for a break after so much soul-baring. Thank you all for being wonderful students. Giles and Isobel have asked me to say that there will always be a buffet lunch in the main conference room, so please go and help yourselves. This afternoon is free. You may want to write or get inspiration from exploring the countryside. There are wonderful walks – up the hill behind the house, or round the lake. I’ll see you all back here at five.’

There was a general move towards the main conference room and the promise of food. Louisa found herself standing next to Marnie as they queued for homemade soup and hot rolls. They looked at each other appraisingly, both aware that after the exposing and sharing of such intimate stories, the relationships of everyone in the room had inevitably changed. Surprisingly Marnie spoke first.

‘We got off to a bad start, you and I,’ she said gruffly, her longing for acceptance getting the better of her habitual defensiveness. ‘I’m sorry if it was my fault.’ She gave a little shrug. ‘It usually is. I’m hopeless at first approaches. I can’t seem to get the hang of them.’

‘And I was an unfriendly cow,’ said Louisa quickly. ‘But I was fascinated by what you wrote. We’ve had completely opposite early experiences. I’d love to hear more. Shall we go for a walk together this afternoon? I need to blow some cobwebs away after all that introspection.’

She thought Marnie might refuse and was pleased when she nodded. ‘Sure. I’d like that. I was quite unprepared for the fascination of all those personal revelations – makes you look at everyone in a completely new way and want to know more. You can tell me about your recovery icon – I’ve always loved owls.’

‘And I want to know more about Kenneth and that old lady. I sensed she has become really important in your life. Am I right?’

‘She’s the most crucial part of my whole story – she’s the reason I’m here.’

‘Let’s meet after lunch and I’ll take you up the hill and we can sit by the burn and listen to curlews calling and put our worlds to rights.’

‘Okay. I’ll tell you about the old lady. It only takes one person to alter your whole way of looking at things and she did that for me.’ She made a wry face. ‘But old habits sure die hard – I’m still working on it after twenty years!’